Kyle finished making some breakfast and noticed that Hunter was not up yet. He became slightly worried until the sound of his door caught his attention. Hunter walked into the room with the same expression as usual, blank and distant, like any other clone he has seen. Kyle brought over a plate to him as Hunter sat down.
Kyle sat beside him. "Did you sleep well?"
Hunter kept his composure as he took a bit. "No, need to concern yourself, Master—"
"It's just Kyle, drop the master thing while we are here. Sheesh, I wish you were a normal person, not some mindless clone!" Kyle stormed over to the stairs. "If Vann asks where I am? Tell him that I went out to clear my head of you!"
Hunter stopped and stared at the food, "He wishes for a normal person, not a clone?" He crashed his chest, feeling some aching pain as if a knife was digging its way in. He tried to shake it off; then Hunter noticed the fox sitting across from him. "What do you want, fox?"
The fox sighed, 'I have a name, its Varix, and it is surprising that you have some emotions already?' Varix tilled his hear at Hunter. 'Don't let Kyle's words get to you; you're like an infant that cannot express themselves properly?'
Hunter sat there, staring at his food. "Why does he want me to call him 'Just Kyle,' and not Master Kyle?"
Varix shook his head. 'To most people, being called a Master is rude and overrated. I think that Kyle wants you to seem as his equal, not his superior?' Varix walked up to him, 'besides, you should take some effort in creating a connection with others?'
Hunter went to ask why when Vann returned. "I'm back—wait, where is Kyle?"
Hunter collected himself, "Out to clear his head off me…" His voice trailed off. Vann walked over to the fridge, pulling out some cold water. Hunter did not know what to do, as Vann pulled in across from him at the table. "Vann…"
Vann smiled at him as he could tell something was on Hunter's mind. "Ask away, Hunter; you're in a safe place to speak your mind?"
Hunter swallowed hard, knowing that what he was going to ask was against everything he was taught. "Are emotions a weakness, and is making—"
"No," Vann cut Hunter off. "Yes, emotions can be a weakness, but they also protect us and help us grow as people, whether their a natural or a clone. they are essential and forming connections with others, be it may be short, or for life, they can support you when you are feeling unsure and can help guide you in the right path." Vann reached over to Hunter's hand. "I already knew you were a clone, but I am not going to ask who because you are not them."
Hunter tried to hold back his tears but could not. Kyle stood at the top of the stairs in shock of what he had heard. He did not realize that the demands of being a Faremin clone, weighed on Hunter. Kyle left as not to ruin the moment for Hunter to compose himself.
Vann looked at the stairs. 'I have a feeling Kyle overheard and realized what was going on with Hunter, even if it's a small amount.'
Hunter could not understand what was going on and want to stop whatever was happening before it was too late. "Vann, please make this, this whole thing stop! , these emotions!" He looked up at Vann.
Vann closed his eyes, shaking his head, "No," Hunter sat there in shock as Vann looked him in the eyes. "You have to experience this, or you will regret ever closing them off and sending you to an early grave from within your comrades within the Faremin forces—"
Vann realized what he had said, and fear paralyzed him. Hunter stared at him. "You knew who we are, and you let us into your home knowing what was going to happen to you!?" Hunter stood up, confused about what to think anymore.
Vann sighed, "I have known the moment I saw you, HU-NT-3R." Hunter stepped back the chair, falling to the ground. "My clone name was HU-NT-1R. I was made to be older in appearance compared to you and the ones after me."
Hunter began to shake in anger. "You mean we are clones of the same person!?"
Vann nodded. "I broke free after a woman named Alli found me discarded because I showed much emotion. They will do the same if you don't learn to control and grow with them."
Hunter slammed the table. "Well, I know they won't because they know I will never betray them! That even with the clone project shut down, they need me! I know that I will make my Lord happy by killing any enemy of his!" Hunter pulled Vann's hidden dagger from him and put it to his throat.
Vann grabbed his hand and dragged it to his heart. "I know you think that, but I know you will find the right path to follow." He smiled in the face of his death. "Live, for yourself, for Kyle, and for the future of Altora, our homeworld."
Hunter plugged the dagger into his chest, his hands shaking as tears poured down his face. Vann mouthed the words brother to Hunter. He sat back down as Varix walked up to him, 'sometimes the right thing is to end one's suffering.'
Hunter wiped his tears and looked at Varix. "What do you mean, Varix?"
Varix looked at Vann, 'Wanted do die by the hands of another clone, not through the hands of time. You see, Vann, or whatever he was called, was dying from a rare form of cancer. I don't know much about it, but he was distraught that he couldn't live to have a family of his own.'
Hunter looked at Vann. "So I save him that is something that a Faremin does not do." Hunter looked at his hands for a long while.
Kyle returned in hopes things had calmed down. Taking a deep breath, he made his way down. "I'm back, sorry I took so long. I just… needed to…" Kyle saw what Hunter did as he sat back on his chair, tears still trickling down his face.
Kyle went to check if Hunter was alright. "Welcome back, Kyle, I am sorry if I made you feel out of place when I called you master."
Kyle's mouth dropped. "Wait, you are—emotional and not fighting it?" Hunter nodded. "And Vann?"
"I killed him when I found out he knew who we were and where we were from." Hunter turned to Kyle, "Also, he wanted to die by me, or another like me. In a way, I saved him…" His voice trailed off.
The memory came closing as Hunter opened his eyes to see a fox sitting beside him. 'It has been a while, hasn't it?'
Hunter sat up, staring at the fox, "Varix?"